MiraCosta College Nursing and Allied Health Department & Palomar College Nursing Education Department
Joint Community Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
April 24, 2014
Day, Time and Place: Friday, April 24, 8:30am to 10:30am, Aztlan A/B
Present: Lillian Batista-Edwards, Debbie Berg, Brittany Bohner, Denise Boren, Darlene Burke, Samantha Cardenas, Karin Cohick, Sandra
Comstock, Yvette Duncan, Judith Eckhart, Marti Essman, Roland Estrella, Hope Farquharson, Debbie Foley, Cathy Gibson, Sharon Hall, Kristina
Killingsworth, Debbie Klein, Sharon Lutz, Lisa Maloy, Linda McDonald, Joan Moore, Susan Parker, Gabriella Penaloza, Nancy Pince, Michelle
Riingen, Susan Roberts, Gail Rodriques, Marlene Ruiz, Sue Simpson, Kathy Topp, Julie Van Houten, Julie Vignato, Debbie Yaddow, Elena Ybarra
Figueroa
Recorder: Aimee Barragan
Topic
1. Call to order
2. Welcoming Remarks
3. Approval of Minutes
4. Introduction
5. Updates on Palomar’s
Nursing Programs
Information/Discussion
8:37am
S. Comstock welcomed everyone and thanked them for attending.
April 2013 minutes approved unanimously.
Everyone in the room introduced themselves. There are representatives from MiraCosta College, Palomar College,
CSU San Marcos, Grossmont College, San Diego City College, Southwestern College, Point Loma Nazarene
University, Health Workforce Initiative at Grossmont College, Hospice of the North Coast, Kaiser Permanente
Hospital, Oncology Therapies of Vista, and Tri-City Medical Center.
J. Eckhart announced that Palomar College is making several changes in faculty and faculty roles. They have hired
Elizabeth Light to be the new full time Pediatric instructor. She will start in the fall.
J. Eckhart is retiring after 20 years. H. Farquharson will be the new department chair starting July 1 and Karen
McGurk will be the new assistant chair. H. Farquharson defended her doctorate degree and is now Dr. Farquharson.
Everyone in the room thanked J. Eckhart for her time and direction.
Palomar College’s pass rates on the NCLEX-RN was 96% for the fall 2012 and spring 2013 graduates. Two
students still need to take the exam, but so far the fall 2013 graduates have 100% pass rate.
The student surveys show that students are satisfied with their courses, clinical experiences, support services,
learning resources, and the overall program. With a modification of the employer survey, Palomar College has
determined that the employers who have hired their graduates are pleased with the student’s knowledge and
education base.
Palomar College applied for an Enrollment Growth grant and an Assessment, Retention, and Remediation grant for
next year from the Chancellor’s Office. Since Palomar College’s retention rate is lower than the 85% the state
would like to see, they will only receive funds for Assessment, Retention and Remediation.
Students are encouraged to complete their BSN. CSUSM has met with PCC students to discuss coursework needed
to enter their RN-BSN program through extended studies.
Perkins funds continue to be used for professional development and the promotion of community partnerships.
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6. Updates on MiraCosta’s
Nursing Programs
7. Updates on MiraCosta’s
Surgical Technology
Program
8. Suggestions from
Advisory Committee
MiraCosta College’s current President, Dr. Francisco Rodriguez, is leaving to become a Chancellor in Los Angeles.
Vice President of Student Services with be the interim President until the college hires a new President.
MCC still has small groups of students, accepting students twice a year for the ADN program.
MiraCostaCollege’s pass rates on the NCLEX-RN was 100% for the fall 2012 and spring 2013 graduates.
S. Comstock reports that the job placement rates for new graduates have gone down. She learned that it is the same
throughout the state of California. Many students are moving out of state to find jobs.
MCC just received an Enrollment Growth grant for fiscal year 2015. The funds will be used for retention,
equipment, salaries for a lab simulation clerk, a secretary, etc.
Overall, student surveys show that students are happy with the program with the exception the small lab space. The
lab is shared with the Surgical Technology and CNA students so it gets crowed. MCC is looking to expand the lab.
S. Roberts shares that the current part time LVN class will have their pinning ceremony this August. There is an
orientation in June for the new fall class. There is a good retention rate for the LVN program at this time. The CA
average pass rate for the NCLEX-LVN is 78%. The last LVN graduating class had an 89% pass rate.
S. Comstock reports that the Naval Hospital at Camp Pendleton changed their background check policy, so our
students will no longer be going to that hospital for clinicals. S. Comstock thanks M. Ruiz at for accepting our
students at Kaiser for these placements. MCC will still offer the NURS166 corpsman course at NHCP because it is
not patient related. It will be at the new hospital in a classroom.
Y. Duncan discusses the LVN-RN program. There will be 18 new LVN-RN students starting this summer.
Students will take the transition course as well as the pharmacology course this summer before dividing into two
cohorts to continue the program in either fall or spring.
K. Cohick reported that MCC continues to certify 115 students a year as CNA’s. 90-95% of these students want to
be ADN students. MCC also offers a Home Health Aide course once a year.
R. Estrella currently has 14 students in the Corpsman-LVN transition course (NURS166). He explained that
retention is a challenge because they are active duty military and are still getting deployed.
Program director, L. Batista-Edwards, shared that the ST program is a one year program beginning every spring,
with an average of 16 students starting the program. There is currently 11 students registered in the program. The
students are now required to take the state CST exam at the end of the program. The test scores over the last two
years have dropped, so the instructors have implemented new techniques to increase state scores, such as additional
lab time, and additional online quizzes.
The students used to easily get jobs at the hospitals they did their clinical rotations at, but this is no longer the case.
OR jobs are now the hardest to get, and there are less job opportunities available.
L. Batista-Edwards discussed the experience the students get in the program, including laparoscopic surgeries, and
students using up to date equipment in the lab.
The clinical placements remain an issue for the ST program at MCC. TCMC used to place 8 of our students, but
now only place 4 due to the increase of spinal and robotic surgeries, which lessons the case loads available to the
students. M. Ruiz suggests the new surgery center in San Marcos for possible student placements.
At last year’s Advisory Board Meeting, M. Ruiz suggested to MCC that they move up the interviewing techniques
in the curriculum. S. Comstock says that we have moved it up and asks M. Ruiz if our students are doing better. M.
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Partners
9. Status of Grants
10. Update on BSN in CCC
11. Updates From Each
Community Agency
Ruiz replies that they are. She stateed that she recently interviewed 70 students for an externship position and that
there is an increased amount of students from MCC who will get a position. One of the MCC students are present,
K. Killingsworth, and stated the interview was an invaluable experience and she is excited to participate in the
externship.
J. Moore asked if the e-portfolios are helpful. M. Ruiz says that the application process is electronic, so that’s a
move in the right direction. K. Topp says that e-portfolios are not important, but the student’s experience and how
they conduct themselves during the interview is.
M. Ruiz says that there is one problem she has discovered with reference letters: faculty use a template. Kaiser no
longer looks at them. She explains that when interviewing students, she uses a point system. Some points are given
for being a part of the school’s nursing association, points for being active in the association, points for military
service, appearance, etc.
The grant requests are due May 30th.
D. Yaddow and D. Berg went to Sacramento for a hearing on bill SB850 which would allow a BSN to be offered at
a California Community College. As of now, there will be no duplicate programs offered at Community College
level that are available at CSU’s on the bill, which includes nursing. Other programs like Automotive, X-Ray
Technician, etc are being considered. They report that the California Nurses Association (CNA) does not support
the bill. After the hearing, they spoke to Stephanie Roberson and Kelly Green from the CNA, and explained that
the degree would be an ADN-BSN, not straight BSN. D. Yaddow and D. berg are going to try to get the support of
the CNA by the time the bill is voted on and then Governor Brown will sign. Discussion ensued.
Everyone thanks D. Yaddow and D. Berg for their work on this, developing curriculum and course outlines, etc…
CSUSM – D. Boren stated that the Nursing Program was a part of the Independent School of Nursing, but now
they are part of the College of Human Health and Education Services. Their graduate program is focusing more on
the role of Nurse Practitioner because of the Affordable Healthcare Act. CSUSM has a partnership with Palomar
College, MiraCosta College and Mt. San Jacinto College, offering an RN-BSN program at $350 a unit.
An instructor from Palomar College asked if the roadmap that was developed for this RN-BSN program can be
posted. D. Boren will email the roadmap to PCC and MCC.
Oceanside High School - D. Foley asks if the Community Colleges are still using the point rubric to accept
students. Everyone answers “yes.” She reports that the Health Academy students are very interested in becoming
RN’s. These students will receive points for their volunteer hours.
S. Comstock reported that the CNA course is articulated. S. Comstock will check to see what other MCC courses
are articulated and contact D. Foley, if there are any other ones.
Point Loma Nazarene – M. Riingen shares the current senior class is the first of whom entered the program with the
newly revised curriculum and requirements. Pre-nursing students must recieve a B in their pre-nursing courses.
Community is also now emphasized throughout the curriculum. There has been a decrease in their NCLEX pass
rate which prompted these changes.
The MSN program is a cohort of 30 students, which was previously 10. There are more students who want their
CNE. J. Eckhart is a guest speaker in Point Loma’s capstone and encourages students to get their CNE.
TCMC – K. Topp reported that money is tight but since December, TCMC has been hiring again and refilling
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positions. Some service lines are increasing. There are many patients, with an increase in psych patients, especially
older psych patients. K. Topp will continue to take as many clinical rotations as possible for the students, although
one Med Surg wing closed which decreases the amount of students she can take. There will be a new CEO soon.
Informatics has a test date in July.
TCMC recently started using dynamic documentation, electronic progress notes. By January 2015 these notes will
be active.
TCMC did not have new grad program this last year, but may possibly take 6-8 new grads this summer. Current
TCMC employees will have priority, followed by volunteers. TCMC cannot post “new grad” positions anymore,
they must be “RN” positions.
S. Hall is attending her 50th Nursing School reunion in June 2014.
K. Cohick – She encourages her CNA graduates to work as CNAs at various hospitals throughout ADN program so
they make connections and possibly get hired at the facility after graduation from the ADN program.
R. Estrella asked K. Topp if TCMC uses a similar point system that M. Ruiz e uses for hiring at Kaiser. TCMC
does not, but they are currently hiring new grads as sitters, which is a good way for new grads to get exposure and
become familiar with the hospital.
Grossmont College just received accreditation for 8 more years. The BRN will be visiting them in fall 2015. Pass
rates are 100%.
MCC student B. Bohner shares her experience with TCMC with the room. She reports that the nurses are very
helpful and have a lot of knowledge they are willing to share. She enjoys being at TCMC, gaining experience that
she cannot get in school.
MCC student E. Ybarra Figueroa is at Kaiser and loves the atmosphere, and reports that all the nurses are helpful.
She feels that MCC instructor J. Balahadia is a great role model.
MCC student K. Killingsworth did clinical rotations at TCMC where she loved tele and ortho and the variety on
pavilion. She also did a clinical rotation at Kaiser on 5 south and loves the teamwork there.
Hospice of the North Coast reports that it may be merging with Scripps. If they do, it will go from a 60 patient
facility to a 200 patient facility, which changes the dynamics of the company. They would love to have students in
their house, and need volunteers Monday through Friday from 8:00am-5:00pm. The Affordable Care Act is
requiring HNC to report quality measures. If not, there will be a 2% decrease in their reimbursement. Medicare part
d does not exist in hospice unless the Dr. states that medications are still needed.
K. Cohick reported that the Department of Public Health is requiring MCC to send Home Health Aides to skilled
nursing facilities for clinicals, not dependent living facilities.
M. Ruiz from Kaiser –At the Associate of California Nurse Leaders (ACNL) meeting last week, there was a
presentation on the Affordable Care Act. The enrollment in CA will increase ambulatory practice. M. Ruiz asks the
schools to increase exposure of ambulatory practice to the students.
Community healthcare clinics are desperate for volunteers, particularly nursing students.
There will be one more new grad program a Kaiser this year, the date is TBD.
Oncology Therapies is worried that there will be less charity care in the community in the future. They enjoy
working with the students. J. Eckhart adds that the students enjoy going to Oncology Therapies as well.
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12. Roundtable
13. Adjourned
D. Berg reports that San Diego City College will have 70 students graduate this year. They have developed a road
map with SDSU for students to obtain their BSN.
Health Workforce Initiative at Grossmont College is offering two workshops in June and July. Faculty can email S.
Cardenas at samantha.cardenas@gcccd.edu and she will provide more details.
N. Pince from Palomar College states that the hardest thing for her to deal with is student’s personal and financial
problems. The Retention Recruitment Committee at PCC is trying to intervene before students drop or fail for these
reasons.
J. Van Houten from PCC asks if the nursing shortage is coming. M. Riingen from Point Loma says they have
graduates moving out of state and have no problem getting jobs.
G. Rodriques presents the nursing information meeting at PCC and tells incoming students to think of going on for
their BSN after ADN and to start making long range plans now.
H. Farquharson finds it challenging to place students in ambulatory because there are no RNs working in
ambulatory. She asks all the agencies present if when hiring in an acute setting, are they hiring more BSNs over
ADNs? TCMC has moved towards BSNs with the exception of TCMC employees. Kaiser has 2/3 BSN.
Ambulatory is all ADN graduates.
L. McDonald from Southwestern Community College reports that they are graduating 56 students this year. SWCC
just received accreditation for 8 more years.
M. Ruiz says very few externs are only students, most have jobs as well.
Point Loma reports that only 60% of graduates are going into acute care. They also share that their students have to
do clinicals in Skilled Nursing Facilities, and they seem to enjoy the experience. TCMC reports that they are
working closely with the Skilled Nursing Facilities to educate their staff on current procedures and practices.
S. Simpson asks what the chances are for students to get a position in a hospital if they go to long term care first for
experience. TCMC says if they’re only out of school for 6-12 months, that’s ok. After 18 months, it will be more
difficult to secure a job. Kaiser agrees.
S. Roberts reports that she held a respiratory seminar for the MCC LVN students, and the next day they got to
perform trac suctioning and trac changes.
K. Topp asks about the College’s waitlists, however there are no longer waitlists to get into any ADN programs.
All programs accept students based on the multi criteria point system.
SWCC graduates are having a hard time finding jobs, but a lot of students have gone to Yuma, AZ where there is
currently a nursing shortage.
10:44am
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